Citation

Chen D, Zhou X, Wu H, Ying J, Shen Y, Zhu Q, You J. Stress Health 2024; 40(1): e3261.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/smi.3261

PMID

37199056

Abstract

Research has demonstrated robust links between adolescent stress and serious psychological problems. The current study aimed to identify latent stress profiles of 1510 adolescents (59.7% females; Mage  = 16.77 years, SD = 0.86) based on five stresses (parental stresses, family environment stresses, academic stresses, teacher stresses, and peer stresses) at three time points (T1/2/3). Moreover, this study would investigate the transition patterns of these profiles over time and examine the associations between the profiles and adverse psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI], and suicidal ideation). Three latent stress profiles were identified, including High-stress profile, Medium-stress profile, and Low-stress profile. The three profiles were significantly different on the levels of T1/2/3 anxiety, depression, NSSI, and suicidal ideation. The profile memberships remained relatively stable across three time points. Notably, the present study found gender differences, with boys were more likely to be in the High-stress profile and to transition from the Medium- to the High-stress profile, compared to girls. Furthermore, left-behind adolescents were more likely to be in the High-stress profile than non-left-behind adolescents. The findings highlight the importance of adopting 'this-approach-fits-this-profile' interventions for adolescents. Parents and teachers are advised to adopt different strategies for girls and boys.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; adolescents; Anxiety; Female; Humans; latent profile analysis; latent transition analysis; Male; Mental Health; Parents; psychopathology; Self-Injurious Behavior; stress; Suicidal Ideation